- Phytol directly activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) and regulates gene expression involved in lipid metabolism in PPARalpha-expressing HepG2 hepatocytes. Goto, T., Takahashi, N., Kato, S., Egawa, K., Ebisu, S., Moriyama, T., Fushiki, T., Kawada, T. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. (2005)